The story of living in spite of melanoma, CLND (X 2!), metastasis, vaccines, anti-PD-1, lung removal, and stereotactic radiation. (With a little adenocarcinoma ex-goblet cell carcinoid thrown in!!!) The story of life with family and friends. {Posts under ~ Sew Chaotically, Travel Chaotically, and Chaotic Cookery also housed within! A girl's gotta have fun!}

About Me

Who am I? That is a question the rest of you could probably answer better than I. I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, pediatric nurse practitioner, cook, teacher, gardener, lover of words and music, occasional seamstress, and homemaker. I do have a couple of talents of questionable merit: I can create a decent meal in less than 30 minutes. I can feed and/or soothe almost any baby. And I can remember practically any song I've ever heard. For the rest, I'd rather those who know me decide.

Friday, May 24, 2019

Recently I've embraced going through my stash, utilizing ALL bits and bobs, rethinking patterns into new uses without buying more, completing planned projects, and filling some holes in my wardrobe. I've added needed robes and gowns. Found ways to utilize scraps (from seam binding to pouf-to-be stuffing, to tops for play) and refashion unused items into more useful pieces. This outfit ticks a couple of those boxes!!!

From these two patterns, the one on the left given to me from a friend who had been gifted it from another, and an old a-line skirt pattern I've used a zillion times, along with....

...some green floral print quilting cotton from a "play sack dress" when I was pregnant, lactating and chasing small children that I haven't worn in YEARS, but had saved because the fabric was pretty, combined with a bit of fabric purchased for what purpose I know not....back when Roo was about 4 years old...used only to make a little apron for her at one point ~ I made this!!!!

A light weight linen blend with beautiful drape, probably from the now defunct Hancock's Fabric.

Loving my roses, brought to one part of my yard from my childhood home many years ago with a sprig planted along this trellis last year. Skirt made with already existing slits in the material cause I had to...and...I like it!!

Ta-dah! Useful pieces that can be happily worn in lots of combo's from 'worthless' remnants!

Continuing May's Melanoma Awareness ~ just as pretty outfits can be created from things that are scarred and could easily be tossed in the bin as ruined, marred, no longer of use ~ so can a beautiful life...

And there is this beautiful paragraph from: Little Bee, by Chris Cleave

"On the girl's brown legs there were many small white scars. I was thinking, Do those scars cover the whole of you, like the stars and the moons on your dress? I thought that would be pretty too, and I ask you right here please to agree with me that a scar is never ugly. That is what the scar makers want us to think. But you and I, we must make an agreement to defy them. We must see all scars as beauty. Okay? This will be our secret. Because take it from me, a scar does not form on the dying. A scar means, I survived."

Thursday, May 23, 2019

Ain't brushed my hair. No time to care, with a bit of bean picking in a cool little me made shift!! McCall's 6074. Technically designed for a knit. But it worked out with no need for the elastic under the bust in this cool cotton eyelet.

I love to crochet, but usually in the winter, when you have the desire to snuggle under a blanket but look productive at the same time!! Have been working on this little throw over the past few months while sitting with a convalescing friend. With only the last row to go, decided to finish it off this morning. It is part of a sitting room overhaul that is not yet complete but has everything to do with these yet to be finished sashiko embroidered pillow covers....

Monday, May 20, 2019

I've been waiting for a bit of linen to make into this top for some time. When I found this fairly heavy nubby linen at Fine Fabrics in Atlanta, I knew it would be perfect!

While a lighter weight fabric would be pretty in this little Peplum Top (a free pattern by In the Folds!!! BTW!!!) I love how the more substantial linen works for this one!

The pattern calls for a super cute v-neck in the back, but I made this one with a simple curved crew neck in the back.

Notes on the changes I made include using bias binding for finishing the neck, arms and hem and adding 3 1/2 inches to the bodice portion as the top is quite cropped. I flat felled all seams. This fabric was a pleasure to work with and a little effort on the details made it special.

Thanks to Peppermint Magazine and In the Folds for this great pattern!!! I love my top!!! Sew Chaotically! - les

I used this leftover bit to make an Inari top!!! I've loved making/wearing the two Inari tee dresses by Named Patterns I've made (mine and dear Danita's) and this easy top is perfect. I am very happy with it! I made it exactly as prescribed. Will probably add a couple inches to the length, as I am 5'9'', should I make another. This is the first of several simple summer tops I'm planning to add to my wardrobe over the next little bit!

Ruthie is so sweet, gifting me with this "Tallahassee Turtle fabric" last year. I wrote this post about it which includes many of my turtle tales and deets on this make! There could be no better me made to wear during a swamp tour of the Outer Banks!!!

Hollyburn skirt by Sewaholic Patterns, and since it was a little cool, my super well worn Jean Jacket made from Buttericks 5616 and rtw tee.

I enjoyed the incredible beauty of the swamp with my best bug feeding buddy!!! Live, sew and travel chaotically...enjoying all the beauty as you go! - les

I love all my me mades! But some of my early makes were not terribly well done. Some were not made in the best or most appropriate fabrics. Some were not really my style. Some just didn't fit me as they should. I am happy to say that I have improved in all those categories and super happy when I can find uses for the makes that have issues. I refashion them when I can - like turning a dress into a skirt as I did here. But when the garment is sound, what I like best is finding a perfect home where it will be used and loved. I made this cute little shirt dress (S8014) in 2016 and did a really great job on it!! It just wasn't quite long enough, especially since given its shape it tends to ride up when you sit!! So it was rarely worn. Which made me sad.

But.....

...it found a home. On a dear friend of the perfect size!!! Now it's a PERFECT Me Made!!!
Sew and live and share chaotically! - les